Claire Richards
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Claire Richards | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Claire Richards |
| Born | August 17, 1977 |
| Origin | Hillingdon, England |
| Genre(s) | Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1997–2001,2008– |
| Associated acts | Steps |
| Website | ClaireRichards.co.uk |
Claire Richards (born Claire Anne Richards, 17 August 1977, Hillingdon, Middlesex) is an English singer best known for her membership in the pop quintet, Steps.
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[edit] Early career
Richards began her career as one third of pop trio 'TSD' with Cossie and Bonnie. They had little success and were dropped by their record label after the release of their second single "Baby I Love You". Richards went on to work as a receptionist for seven months, winning the temp of the month award for May 1997.
[edit] Quitting Steps
After she and her fellow group mate Ian "H" Watkins resigned, during the last leg of their final tour, the two continued singing as a duo without the other three members of Steps, as H & Claire. The pair experienced success with their debut single "DJ", which reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart, and their next two singles, which both charted within the Top 10. While the duo had initial success their album Another You, Another Me, which was released in 2002, charted badly.
Taking a break from singing to plan her wedding to Steps dancer, Mark Webb. H & Claire disbanded, and ceased recording together in 2003. Richards married Webb on August 2, 2003, they later split in 2005.
[edit] Controversy
In 2000, both Richards and band-mate Lee Latchford-Evans were criticized by the Anti Fascist Action organisation for making allegedly xenophobic remarks against asylum seekers.[1] Latchford-Evans stated that "there should be more jobs for English people" with Richards continuing, "Why are we paying for all these people to come into the country anyway?". All accusations were vehemently denied by both Latchford-Evans and Richards.
[edit] Recent news
More recently, Richards has left a message on a website dedicated to her, stating that she is planning a return to a singing career in the near future.[2]
In December 2006, she announced that she would be expecting her first child in the spring of 2007. On 8 May 2007, she gave birth to a baby boy, named Charlie.
In January 2008, she and Reece Hill announced their engagement. They plan to marry in September 2008 in Surrey, with son Charlie as pageboy.
[edit] Albums
| Year | Title | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | ||||
| 1998 | Step One | 2 | ||
| 1999 | Steptacular | 1 | ||
| 2000 | Buzz | 4 | ||
| 2001 | Gold - The Greatest Hits | 1 | ||
| 2002 | The Last Dance | 57 | ||
| 2002 | Another You Another Me | 53 | ||
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | UK | AUS | NED | BEL | NZL | GER | PHI | LEB | IRE | SWE | SPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | "5,6,7,8" | 14 | 1 | 22 | 2 | 7 | — | 1 | — | — | 17 | — |
| 1998 | "Last Thing on My Mind" | 6 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 24 | — | 7 | 12 | 11 | 59 | — |
| "One for Sorrow" | 2 | 34 | 24 | 1 | 13 | — | 1 | 3 | 4 | 34 | — | |
| "Heartbeat / Tragedy" | 1 | 10 | 22 | 8 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 20 | |
| 1999 | "Better Best Forgotten" | 2 | — | 79 | 20 | — | — | — | 14 | 8 | — | — |
| "Thank ABBA for the Music" with Cleopatra, Tina Cousins, Billie Piper, B*Witched |
4 | 9 | 14 | — | 6 | 97 | — | 5 | — | 8 | — | |
| "Love's Got a Hold on My Heart" | 2 | 29 | 57 | 14 | 18 | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | |
| "After the Love Has Gone" | 5 | 47 | 63 | 13 | — | — | — | 20 | 18 | — | — | |
| "Say You'll Be Mine" / "Better the Devil You Know" | 4 | 21 | 47 | 42 | — | 98 | 10 | — | 13 | — | — | |
| 2000 | "Deeper Shade of Blue" | 4 | — | — | 36 | — | — | 5 | 2 | 24 | — | — |
| "When I Said Goodbye / Summer Of Love" | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 18 | — | 32 | |
| "Stomp" | 1 | 66 | — | 25 | — | — | — | — | 17 | — | 8 | |
| 2001 | "It's the Way You Make Me Feel" | 2 | — | — | 32 | — | — | 3 | 17 | 8 | — | — |
| "Here And Now / You'll Be Sorry" | 4 | 71 | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | 23 | — | — | |
| "Chain Reaction" | 2 | 41 | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | 8 | — | — | |
| "Words Are Not Enough / I Know Him So Well" | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 21 | — | — | |
| 2002 | "DJ" | 3 | — | — | - | — | — | - | - | - | — | — |
| "Half A Heart" | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | - | — | — | |
| "All Out of Love " | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | - | — | — |
[edit] References
- ^ BBC News | ENTERTAINMENT | Steps upset by 'racist' claims
- ^ ClaireRichards.co.uk - The Definitive Claire Richards Website!
[edit] External links
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